The Horizon Group
The Horizon Group
Buying or selling a yacht is a major undertaking, and we are here to handle the process and make yacht ownership smoother and easier. With over 25 years of experience in yacht sales, we’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions our clients ask about tax-free yacht ownership with Horizon Yacht Sales and what you can expect when working with us.
Horizon offers factory-direct pricing on catamarans, monohulls and powerboats from leading manufacturers.
Horizon offers sailing yachts for sale directly from Nautitech, Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, and Excess Catamarans and Jeanneau, Beneteau, Dufour and Bavaria Yachts. Horizon is a dealer for Invincible power boats and Island RIBs. We are also able to sell yachts from other manufacturers.
You can buy either a new or used yacht through Horizon Yacht Sales. We offer new yachts available in our inventory of yachts at factory-direct pricing through pre-booked build slots or you can place an order for any new yacht. We offer a range of used yachts from our evolving brokerage listing.
When you buy a yacht with us, our Horizon Yacht Sales staff will assist you throughout the purchase process, helping you select the ideal yacht to give you the ultimate yacht ownership experience.
There are five simple steps:
Purchase prices will vary dependent upon your exact requirements but will include comprehensive specifications, full charter inventory, safety equipment, quality linens and towels, plus semi-rigid inflatable dinghy and outboard. The price covers commissioning of the vessel, insurance and delivery to our charter bases.
We work with reputable lenders, enabling you to finance up to 80% of the cost of your yacht if needed. Just let us know and we can put you in touch.
We offer a full service that will take care of yacht registration in the BVI and associated documentation. If you choose to register your yacht in the USA, we will provide guidance and support to ensure that all required processes are completed.
Buying through Horizon Yacht Sales means that your purchase of a yacht in the Caribbean benefits from factory-direct pricing and is tax and tariff-free. If you choose to run your yacht as a business, and place your yacht in charter in the Caribbean, you may be able to qualify for tax advantages.
Our charter management program can enable US Taxpayers to gain significant tax advantages. Just ask for more details and we will be happy to put you in touch with independent advisors, who can tell you more about how this can work to your benefit.
Sea trials and test sails on new build yachts can be booked through Horizon but may be subject to specific dates offered by the manufacturer. If the yacht (or a similar yacht) is available in the Horizon Yacht Charter fleet, you may book a “try before you buy” charter. If you purchase a yacht within 3 months of your charter, up to a week’s charter fee will be deducted from the purchase price of your yacht through Horizon Yacht Sales.
With over 20 years of expertise in yacht sales, our brokerage service takes care of all the steps required to value and present your yacht for sale. From arranging interior and exterior cleaning and professional photography to setting up the listing on multiple marketing channels, Horizon Yacht Sales covers all aspects of ensuring that your yacht reaches the target market and is always professionally presented for each viewing.
We start with an initial consult & valuation to agree on the asking price and sign a listing agreement. While our listings are exclusive, we encourage co-brokering so other brokers can bring buyers while Horizon Yacht Sales manages the sale.
Horizon Yacht Sales handles the yacht prep and photography if in Nanny Cay, writes up the spec, and provides you with a data sheet to capture onboard equipment. If your yacht is offsite, you will need to prepare your yacht and provide photos for the listing.
Your boat is advertised globally on multiple platforms including Yacht World and Boat.com.
We manage all enquiries, screens buyers, host viewings, and negotiate offers and the purchase agreement on your behalf. We will handle the sea trials, paperwork, payment and handover.
Horizon prides itself on the quality and maintenance of the yachts in its fleet. Attention to detail is a key factor in our success as a charter company and with our owners who invest in a yacht for their own sailing pleasure and enjoyment. We are fast to respond to clients and owner enquiries and the Management team and Directors are always available to discuss owners’ questions.
Each base is responsible for booking the yachts in its fleet so that the clients are assisted by reservations staff intimately familiar with each yacht. This means potential charterers will get accurate and relevant information.
Our charter programs are flexible to accommodate the owner’s specific requirements wherever possible. This includes personal cruising wishes, financial planning, and your degree of involvement etc.
Owners can choose between Maximum Income or Active Management charter programs in the Horizon yacht charter fleets in the BVI or St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The Max Income Management program is an income-sharing program and usually runs for 5 years. You are credited for the full net charter income after booking commissions. Horizon bills a 20% management fee, costs of parts, services, dockage etc. Your “income” is the difference between the revenue and the costs. Owner usage can be unlimited, but owner usage directly affects your income. This program is a partnership and you can choose to be actively or passively involved. US owners have successfully operated their yachts when actively involved and have benefitted from significant tax advantages.
Horizon’s Active Management program is designed for US yacht owners to actively participate in running their yacht as a business as a for-profit business, which can reduce the cost of yacht ownership and provide an owner with significant tax benefits.
ONLY Horizon’s Active Yacht Management Program has had an IRS review and approval from a US court of law. We advise you to consult your own CPA or tax advisor or contact us if you would like a free consultation with our tax lawyer.
Each month, our accounting department will produce a statement for your yacht. Your financial statement is also a comprehensive record of what work has been performed on your yacht as well as what charter activity your yacht has had during that month.
Horizon is in two idyllic Caribbean sailing destinations.
Our head office is based at Nanny Cay Marina and Resort in Tortola, the heart of the British Virgin Islands. The Resort boasts many facilities including restaurants, pool, beach, hotel, provisioning stores, dive shop etc. as well as a range of yacht services and a chandlery.
Our base in St Vincent & the Grenadines is located at Blue Lagoon Marina on the southern tip of St Vincent and close to the airport, hotels, and shopping.
As an owner in either of the Horizon Yacht Charters management programs, you have the freedom to use your yacht as often as you like depending on your personal plans and financial goals.
Our professional maintenance teams will make sure your yacht is always maintained to the highest standards throughout the program. We will conduct a thorough phase-out when the time comes.
Whether you want to sail around the world or daysail from the dock, Horizon can complete any upgrades you wish. We also have a full-service Brokerage that will help you sell if your yacht.
Horizon is an owner-operated company that started in Tortola, BVI in 1998 and is one of the Caribbean’s largest independent yacht charter, sales and management companies.
Horizon was founded in 1998 with a mission to “offer immaculate yachts, exemplary customer service and outstanding value for money” and we still live by that today.
Choosing to buy a yacht through Horizon means that everything is taken care of: Comprehensive specification, commissioning, transatlantic delivery logistics, insurance, vessel registration and coding where needed. This is the same for private purchase or for placement in our highly regarded charter fleets.
Since we only sell yachts into our own Charter Fleets, you are guaranteed continuity of service through the complete buying process to the charter of your yacht. We offer the highest level of yacht management service in the industry today and we endeavour to return your yacht to you in the best possible condition, excepting normal wear and tear, at the end of its charter contract. Full maintenance records are sent to you monthly, presented on easy-to-understand invoices.
As part of our service, we arrange for full insurance of the yacht, dinghy and outboard, all license fees and import duties are filed and maintained by us, all maintenance is either performed by us or by specialized contractors, where needed.
Before every charter, your boat will undergo rigorous maintenance checks, which involve full mechanical, electrical and gas equipment checks, rigging checks, which cover standing and running rigging, sails and canvas and finally the shipwright check which involves a full check of all cabinetries, internal and external latches, locks and teak. Your yacht and dinghy will be cleaned immaculately inside and out, and an inventory check will be carried out. After all that, there is a final walkthrough to check that everything is shipshape.
We also undertake “deeper maintenance” in our quarterly, bi-annual and annual checks and haul and anti-foul the boats every year.
Horizon runs Caribbean charter bases in the BVI and St Vincent & the Grenadines with sales/brokerage & owner services across the region (incl. Grenada). Our full-stack offering combines charter (bareboat, skippered, crewed), yacht sales, ownership/management, and ASA learn-to-sail under one owner-operated group.
If you place your new yacht into one of our charter fleets, you automatically become a Member of the Horizon Yacht Owners’ Club. This entitles you to complimentary boat show tickets where Horizon has a booth; free cruising permits; complimentary Horizon crew T-Shirts for your first charter; champagne on ice awaiting each arrival to your yacht and free snorkeling gear.
Contact Robin Hodges for new yacht sales and Giles Starkey for brokerage yacht purchase or listing service.
Yes, we work with owners from around the world, helping them to find the perfect yacht to suit their needs, lifestyle, goals and budget.
We complete commissioning and systems checks, arrange sea‑trial, coordinate delivery to your Caribbean base, and schedule your handover briefing. We provide warranty assistance, private yacht management, Boat Watch/guardianage, on‑ water support, parts & upgrades, hurricane preparation & storage, registration/licensing help, and optional owner training.
Horizon provides its owners with monthly owner statements, detailed maintenance logs, rigorous pre-charter checks, and deeper annual service cycles.
